Chapter 33

Before Robert could even finish his words, Aidan cut him off coldly, “Let her stay outside and kneel.” The former shuddered at how icy the latter sounded and did not dare to say another word. He couldn’t help but glance out of the window worriedly - the rain was extremely heavy. Robert knew that things wouldn’t end well if he allowed this to continue. And so, Robert implored, “Second Young Master, Miss Harvey is going to be undergoing an operation in the coming week - if something were to happen to her, I’m afraid that…” “Shut up,” Aidan interjected, “What makes you think that I don’t know that?” Robert was stunned for a moment before he realized what Aidan meant - whatever that may happen to Eliana from kneeling out in the rain did not matter, for the latter had absolutely no intention for her to go under the knife. And so, Robert did not say anything else and stood quietly by Aidan’s side. … Eliana did not move a muscle despite being showered by a heavy downpour; she did not shudder despite how cold of a night it was. She didn’t feel any different from when she was in prison - it seemed like wherever she went, Eliana would not be spared from torment and agony. Eliana didn’t know just how long she’d been out in the rain for when the rain falling abruptly stopped - the former looked up to see a smug-looking Laura hovering above her with an umbrella. “How does it feel to be treated like this by a man whom you love, hmm, dear cousin?” Laura taunted. Eliana clenched her fists - she could not express just how much she wanted to punch her wicked cousin in the face right there and then. Alas, instead of doing so, she simply replied in a weak voice, “Go ahead if you want to laugh at me - just do whatever the heck you want. I don’t care anymore.” Laura snickered before leaning down to whisper into Eliana’s cousin - “In my eyes, dear cousin, you’re doing but a pathetic stray dog who deserves to be kicked to the curb. And to answer your question - no, I’m not here to laugh at you. I’m here...to take your life away from you.” Laura smirked at Eliana before exclaiming, “Aidan, oh, Aidan - please, come out!” … A servant who’d heard Laura rushed to Aidan’s study to inform him that the latter was calling for him, “Second Young Master, Miss Collins is asking for you.” “Huh? Why would she be? It’s so late - shouldn’t she be sleeping by now?” Robert couldn’t help but wonder aloud in a puzzled voice. Aidan was silent for a moment before he stood up from where he was seated and walked out - he soon found himself out in the courtyard, where Eliana remained kneeling on the ground, absolutely soaked by the rain. Laura was standing beside her, holding an umbrella over Eliana. “It’s late,” Aidan said coldly to Laura, “What are you doing out here?” “Aidan,” Laura whimpered, “I don’t know what happened but can you please let Ellie go? It’s a cold and dark night - I don’t want her to stay here out in the rain. Just look at her, she’s already drenched to the bone!” “There’s no need for you to fret over these matters,” Aidan replied rather impatiently, “Now go back and have a good rest.” Laura shook her head defiantly, “No - while I know that I shouldn’t interfere in your affairs, this concerns my cousin - I can’t just go back and have a good rest knowing that my dear cousin is out here in the cold!” She then cast aside her umbrella to plop herself down beside Eliana - “Alright, you know what? Why don’t I take the punishment on behalf of my cousin? Aidan, please - I really, really don’t want to see Ellie suffer out here in the rain.” Eliana threw up internally at Laura’s awful pretense - alas, she knew that Aidan, that foolish man, would be fooled by her scheming and vicious cousin like always. Aidan immediately stepped forward to pull Laura up from where she was doubled over on the ground - “Get up this instance, Laura - have you gone out of your mind? Don’t you know how poor your health has been?” Laura cried, “No, Aidan, I’m not getting up - yes, my cousins hurt me, but they didn’t mean it - they didn’t know what they were doing! I know that you’re only doing this for me...please, don’t blame my cousins - I can’t rest knowing that they’re suffering so badly…” Aidan glanced from Laura to Eliana, only to see her face as stoic and expressionless as ever - the former couldn’t help but furrow his brows. If only Eliana was half as kind as Laura...perhaps she wouldn’t be where she is today. “Just what did they do for you to treat them like this?” Laura bawled, “Didn’t you say that you wouldn’t be harsh on them, huh? Didn’t you say that, Aidan? How could you! You promised me, you, you…” Before she could finish her sentence, Laura suddenly groaned as she cupped her hand over her abdomen where her liver was, before abruptly stumbling over and passing out. Aidan immediately ran over to Laura and shouted anxiously, “Laura, Laura!”